Charger or loader for cinematograph cameras



Aug. 20, 1935. B. J. DELLA GANA CHARGER OR LOADER FOR CINEMATQGRAPH CAMERAS Filed May 17, 1953 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug Z0, 1935.

B. J; DELLA GANA 2,011,624

C HARGER OR LOADER FOR CINEMATOGRAPH CAMERAS Filed May 17, 1933 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 20, 1935 V UNITED; I

CHARGER R LOADER FOR, CINEMATO- GRAPH CAMERAS Bartholomew James Della Gana, London,

Eng-

land, assignor to Ilford Limited, Ilford, England,

a British company f Application May 17, 1933, Serial No. 671,560

7 In Great Britain May 24, 1932 Y 4 Claims. (Cl.24271) 'film' after. exposure, are mounted side-by-side in the same plane (ii 'e. with their axes at'right angles to that plane) in the camera.

I The charging or loading device most commonly employed for'cameras of the above kind comprises a box '(usually constituted'as a moulding).

having two 'siderby-side compartments 'to hold the unexposed reel and the winding-on spool respectively andprovided withasingle detachl5 able lid forming a cover for both Compartments.

The main objectof the present invention is to provide an improved ,form'of charger having certain advantages (which will hereinafter be ex- 7 plained) over the singleboxtype described above.

,Inits preferred form the support pla'teand the film'casings are formed as sheet metal stampings or pressings Convehientlythe light-trap channel associated with the film access opening, is formed between the flange of the inner shell of the casing. andan arcuate strip which is of approximately the sam jcurvature as the shell flange, is disposed within it, and extends some way to each side of the access opening aforesaid.

example embodying the invention willnow be. described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:- I v Figure l is a plan showing a charger .con structed according to the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan corresponding to Figure 1 ut with the lids of the casings removed, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support plate, 1 p Figure :4' is a'perspective view looking on the inside of the inner shell of a casing, j'Figure 5 is a perspective View looking on the inside of the outer shell or lid of a casing, j Figure 6 is a perspectiveview of the light-trap insertion,. I. .Figure 7. is .a plan View of the back of the inner shellg, .3 ,Figure '8 is a side. elevation or the complete chargenfand f j E'igureQ is a section of the "charger, V p g g numerals indicate like parts throughout thei figures. i I The"charger is shown in Figures 1 -9 and coml Like reference prises two identical film casings 20,. 2! and a single support 22 common to both. {Thecasings and their support, on which they are detachably mounted,'fom1 a unit which can be inserted as such in the camera. Each casing comprises two shells 23, 26-hereinafter referred to as the body shell 23 and lid 24 respectively-each formed (like the push-on lid of a box) as a discwith a marginal flange, arranged to fit together forming a box with the marginal flange 25 of the body shell lying within the marginal flange 26 of the lid. Eaclrshell is formed as a thinfsheet metal pressing or stamping. The body shell 23 is provided with a central aperture 21 to permit the passage into the. interior of the casing of the camera winding spindle. The flange :25 of the? body shell is formed with a slot 28, to provide a passageway forthefilm, and a corresponding slot 29'is formed in the flange 26 ofthelid. The

metal at the sideedges of the slot 28 is bent back to form beadings .30 which aflordsmooth' running surfaces for'the film. In assembling the two shells of the casing the edges f the slot 29 in the lid are engaged 'under'the headings 30 and by this means the lid is properly located with thetwo slots 28, 29 in register. j p

A light-trap channel leading to the slot 28in the body shell is providedvbetween the inner surface of the flange 25 and an arcuate strip 3! of substantially the same curvature as, and disposed within, the flange 25. The strip 3| extends to each side of the slot 28 forming in effect two channels 32, 33 the object of duplicating the channel being to render the two casings interchangeable aswill later be explained. In the present example the strip 3| is formed as a flange pressed up from a metal disc 34 (see Figure 6) which is fitted. within the shell 23 and secured thereto, for example by spot welding at 35. The ends ofthe strip 3! are beaded to provide smooth edges so as toavoid any possibility of the film being scratched or fouled when it enters the channel. The disc 34 is formed ,with a central aperture 36 to register with the spindleaperture 27 in the shell and the metal at the aperture 3B. is pressed up to form a flange 31 to receive and position the spool. A The spool or bobbin on which the film is wound consistsv of a small metal. cap 38 (Figure 9) adapted to fit over the flange 31 which forms a bearing on which the spool is free to rotate. The end of the cap 38 is formed on the inside withra ridge 39 constituting a key for engagement with a co-operating key-way in the end of the winding spindle of the camera. The cap 38 is fitted with a spring clip by means of which the end of a film may be connected to the cap. The lid. 24 of the casing is formed with a pressed-in central boss ll arranged, when the'lid is in position, to

bear-pnor lie close to, the endface of the cap 38 andso locate the latter against endwise movement. The cap 38a1so serves to efiect a lighttight closure of the spindle aperture 2'!- in the body shell.

The casings are e the following manner. -Theend wallof eachbody I shell 23 is formedwith' two pressedrup tongues 42 positioned on the same diameter of the shell on opposite sides of the spindle aperture 21. The: tongues 42 are adapted to engage in co-operating 7 slots 43 formed in the support plate 22. Each caseing is secured in position by placing it flat against the support'plate'with the co-operating ton ues s and slots-in register, and then partially rotating the casing, in the direction in which the tongues project, to bring" the tongues v under portions of the support plate beyond the slots. The slots i 43 are formed in raised circular portions 44 of the support plate, and the endfwall of each body shell is forrned iwith a depressionwhich accommodates the" raised'p'ortion. 44 when the shell is mounted Q11 the plate.

supportf It will beseen (Eigure 3) that the slots arem end of the support plate are offsetang'ul'arly from those, at theotherjend; this is forfthe purpose of ensuring that the film access openings 28, 29 of the two casings will be propjerlly pres'ented (i.-e'.towards cornersioflthei sup port 'plate' at opposjitefends of one j of; its long sides) when the casingsare mounted on the support Referring to Figures l-Iand 3, each, casing is; secured in; place-bye partial rotation with respect to the support in a." counter-clockwise IG/QI'JOII. 1 I 1v vi L .Refer-ringeto Figures land 2, the reel 45" of unexposedifilm is: located in ithe casing 2|v and the. other casing .za contains the spool on which fthe film after exposure isto-ibewound. The end of "theffilm 'is led fromithe-ca'sing 2.! round the ,lightgtrapfchannel,33finflthe body shell of that ,.easi-ng,,andthen through ithelregistering, slots 728'," 29' to the exterior of the. lcharger." The end' Qithe'l film isthentakenfthrough'theregistering slots 28, 29 in, the casing 20, round the light-trap,

channel 32 in that casin ;and is therein connected to thefwinding-on spoolv 38. The charger is inserted' in the camera in a position withthetwo casings. vertically one'above the other," the casing 2! containing the unexposedreel' being. uppermost, and the casin 20 presented towardsj'the, camera windingspindle. In order to permitthewinding spindle to pass through the support plate, 22

I (which is nearest the spindle when the charger is inserted), an aperture 46 is 'formed, in the; support aw positionf in register, with the central aperture 2T in the body shell of the casing '20.

Qnj insertion oi? the charger the film, where it passes'from one casing to the other, is threaded through'the gate of the camera; EThe charger is 1 located in position in the camera inlthe same way theusual single box type "ofcharger. ,g

Itijs to be understood that with'this new form of 1 chargerthe container intwhich the uziex'posed reel of i'film isj'sold consists of] a single disclike, casing ofithe kind shown. 'In order teassemble the charger, the casing containing the unused flhn is mountedin" the position 2!, (Fig ure "1) and an. empty casingismounted in the positiQI i'Zjfl (Figural) The, lid of thefcasingfll is then removed and the 'free end of the unexposed film (whichginl the container assold projects, or

ha ates. Which'jprojects, through the. openings secured to thesupport 22in:

These icon-operating depressions I andprojections on the support plate andfcasings facilitate-the attachment of thec'asings tothe 28, 29) is-threaded round the channel 32 and is connected to the empty spool 38. The lid of the casing 20 is now closed and the charger inserted.

In order to facilitate manipulation of the lids of the casings, each is formed on its marginal flange with a thumb slot 41.- Whenthe film has f been completely transferred to the casing- 263, the

la'tterfis" detached-bodily from the support plate, and to prepare'the charger. for a fresh reel, the

now empty casing 2| is removedand reassembled in the position formerly occupied by the'casing 2.0,. Ineaohcasing'as sold the film is wound upon a bobbin 38, so that after the film has been used and theQcasing containing it removed, there will always beqleft on the charger one casing complete with a bobbin iiafor thewinding on of a new :filin. It willbe seen that by having two lighttight channels32, 33 on each side of the film access slot 28 of the body shell, the casings are renderedinterchangeable, thercha nnel 33 being inioperation whenthecasing is inthe position 2| (Figure 1) and thechanjnel. 32 being'in'joperation when the casing'fisjinthe positionrtfl (Figure 1);" "fWith this irnprovedjformv .offcharger the exposed and vunexposed portionsof the film are containedin independent light-tight casings, and it Twillbe appreciatedthereforethat if' for any reason it is desired to obtain accesslto'the Wind ing-up spool, this can be'jdonejwithout, exposing theu nuse'd film in the other casing." Morethief,v it

chargeris suitable." I'claimz-e 1. For a cme aaaapn tam-ea alight-tight film casing comprising twoseparable-shells', each formed like 'thepush-on lid of abox; as a disc with a marginal flange, arranged toflt together forming a box with the marginal flange, of one shell lying'within'jthe marginalvflangepof 'the other the flange of each shell having asingle registering aperture. arranged to form only] a. singleaccess opening for'the passageof therfilm to the exterior of the casing, and an arcuate strip disposed closejto the innershell flange} spaced apart from the flange throughout its lengthand extending to each side of the film access opening to formlight tight channels fo'r ,thefilm' leading tothe interior of the casing ineach direction around the shell flange from the access opening. 2 .,Fo.r a cinematograph' camera a light-tight film casing comprising two separable shells, each formedlike a push-on lid of a box asadisc with a marginal flange, arranged to fit together to form I a box withthemarginal flange of oneshell lying within the marginal flange of the other, and each shell having only a single aperture inftheflange arran ed .in the assembled position of .the shells,

to'cooperate with the aperture, of the othershell to formonly asingle access opening'for the passageof the filmto the exterior .of the casing, an arcuate strip disposed closeto the inner shell flange, spaced apart from the flange throughout its length and extendingto. each'side 'of-the film access opening to form light-tight channels for the film leading to the interior of the casing in each direction around the shell flange from the access opening, a spool for the film revolubly mounted. on the casing, and a flange turned inwardly around an aperture in the disc portion of one of the shells arranged to cooperate with the spool to form a light trap aperture for the in sertion of the camera winding spindle. 3. For a cinematograph camera a charger comprising two identical light-tight film casings each constituted by two separable shells, each shell formed, like the push-in lid of a box, as a disc with a marginal flange, arranged to fit together forming a box with the marginal flange of one shell lying within the marginal flange of the other, the flange of each shell having a single registering aperture, arranged to form only a single access opening for the passage of the film to the exterior of the casing, an arcuate strip disposed close to the inner shell flange spaced apart from the flange throughout its length and extending to each side of the film access opening to form light tight channels for the film leading to the interior of the casing in each direction around the shell flange from the access opening, and a support for the casings constituted by a substantially flat plate and means for detachably securing the casings each independently of the other, to the face of the support in position side-by-side in the same plane, and parallel with that of the support and with their film access openings properly presented.

4. For a cinematograph camera a charger comprising a support having a flat face and attachment means thereon and two identical light-tight film casings each constituted by two separable shells, each shell formed, like the push-on lid of a box, as a disc with a marginal flange, arranged to fit together forming a box with the marginal flange of one shell lying within the marginal flange of the other, the flange of each shell having a single registering aperture, arranged to form only a single access opening for the passage of the film to the exterior of the casing, an arcuate strip disposed close to the inner shell flange spaced apart from the flange throughout its length and extending to each side of the film access opening to form light tight channels for the film leading to the interior of the casing in each direction around the shell flange from the access opening, and attachment means on only one disc of each casing for detachably securing the casings each independently of the other, to the face of the support in position side-by-side in the same plane, and parallel with the aforesaid flat face of the support and with their film access openings properly presented.

BARTHOLOMEW JAMES DELLA GANA. 

